Lucas Joins Colleagues Urging Action on Delayed Stimulus Payments

Cheyenne, OK – Last week, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) joined Ranking Member of the House Committee on Small Business, Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH), in penning a letter to U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig urging quick action on any outstanding Economic Impact Payments, authorized under the CARES Act.

“In less than six months, your work helped to provide over $230 billion to 140 million EIP recipients by direct deposit, check, and prepaid debit card. We also applaud your efforts to protect Americans from phishing attacks, theft, scams, and other fraudulent schemes so that those who received the EIP could use it for household necessities,” the Members wrote.

“Despite these successes, we’ve heard from hundreds of constituents from our districts who inform us that despite meeting EIP eligibility requirements, they have not yet received their stimulus payment. This is particularly concerning as many of these individuals are elderly, unemployed, recently widowed, from underserved communities, or may not be required to file taxes. As Congress continues working with the Administration on additional coronavirus legislation, which could include additional stimulus payments, we hope that these individuals can promptly receive their EIP as directed in the CARES Act.

“We appreciate the continued effort of the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service to quickly identify and provide stimulus payments to those remaining families and individuals who have not yet received them, so that they can continue to make ends meet despite the financial strain caused by this unforeseen crisis. We look forward to our continued work to help those detrimentally impacted by this global pandemic.”

Also joining Lucas and Chabot as signers of the letter were the following Members of Congress: Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rep. Gregory F. Murphy, M.D. (R-NC), Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH), Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Rep. Van Taylor (R-TX), Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), Rep. Randy K. Weber (R-TX), Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Rep. John H. Rutherford (R-FL), Rep. William R. Timmons, IV (R-SC), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), Rep. James Comer (R-KY), Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA), and Rep. Don Young (R-AK).

Read the full letter here and below:

# # # #

August 7, 2020

The Honorable Steven Mnuchin

Secretary

U.S. Department of the Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20220

The Honorable Charles P. Rettig

Commissioner

Internal Revenue Service

1111 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20224

Dear Secretary Mnuchin and Commissioner Rettig:

Thank you for your continued effort to quickly implement the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Your swift action helped support small businesses, families and individuals at a difficult and uncertain time. We write today about the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) that was provided in the CARES Act and administered by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service.

In less than six months, your work helped to provide over $230 billion to 140 million EIP recipients by direct deposit, check, and prepaid debit card. We also applaud your efforts to protect Americans from phishing attacks, theft, scams, and other fraudulent schemes so that those who received the EIP could use it for household necessities.

These payments are critical as the unemployment rate continues to remain above ten percent and the $600 economic enhancement also enacted in the CARES Act expired on July 31. As many Americans struggle to find employment, we believe that they should be able to continue to provide for themselves and their families.

Despite these successes, we’ve heard from hundreds of constituents from our districts who inform us that despite meeting EIP eligibility requirements, they have not yet received their stimulus payment. This is particularly concerning as many of these individuals are elderly, unemployed, recently widowed, from underserved communities, or may not be required to file taxes. As Congress continues working with the Administration on additional coronavirus legislation, which could include additional stimulus payments, we hope that these individuals can promptly receive their EIP as directed in the CARES Act.

We appreciate the continued effort of the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service to quickly identify and provide stimulus payments to those remaining families and individuals who have not yet received them, so that they can continue to make ends meet despite the financial strain caused by this unforeseen crisis. We look forward to our continued work to help those detrimentally impacted by this global pandemic.

Sincerely,